• Step hidden. Cancer cells are found in sputum, but you can not find any tumor in the lung.
• Stage 0. The cancer is localized in one area, in some cell layers only, and no growth through the lining of the lung. Another term for this type of lung cancer is “carcinoma in situ.”
• Stage I. The cancer is found only in the lung and is surrounded by normal tissue. * Stage II The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage III. The cancer has spread to the chest wall or diaphragm near the lung, or the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the area that separates the two lungs (mediastinum) lymph nodes or across the chest, or neck.
• Stage IV. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Recurrent cancer has returned after being treated.

In the classification of lung cancer small cell stage talks that follow:

• Limited Stage Cancer is found only in one lung and nearby lymph nodes.
• Extensive Stage Cancer has spread outside the lung where it originated to other tissues of the chest or other body parts.
• Step appellant. The disease has recurred after being treated, whether in the lungs or other body part.
• Step appellant. The disease has recurred after being treated, whether in the lungs or other body part.

In the immune system, a large part of the body’s defense against cancer is carried out directly by cells, rather than by antibodies circulating in the blood. For example, the presence of tumor antigens on cancer cells can activate certain white blood cells (lymphocytes and in a much lesser degree, monocytes) which perform an immune surveillance seeking and destroying cancer cells.

The primary role of the immune system to control the development of a cancer cell is exemplified by a startling statistic: Cancer is 100 times more likely to occur in people who take drugs that suppress the immune system (eg, because of transplant of an organ or a rheumatic disease) than in those with normal immune systems. Also, sometimes a transplanted organ is a cancer that was not diagnosed before transplantation. The cancer could have been growing very slowly or may not have grown at all in the donor organ. However, it begins to grow and spread rapidly in the transplant patient, whose immune system is nullified by the drugs supplied to protect the transplant. In general, when drugs that decrease the immune response are suspended, the transplanted organ is rejected and transplanted cancer is also destroyed.

Surgery for lung cancer is a major operation. After lung surgery, air and fluid tend to collect in the chest. Patients often need help turning over, coughing and breathing deeply. These activities are important for recovery because they help to expand the remaining lung tissue and removal of excess air and fluid. Pain or weakness in the chest and arm and shortness of breath are common side effects of surgery for lung cancer. Patients may take several weeks or months to regain strength and energy.

Chemotherapy affects both normal and cancer cells. Side effects depend largely on the specific drug and dose (amount of drug administered). Common side effects of chemotherapy are nausea and vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores and fatigue.

Radiation therapy, like chemotherapy, affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. Side effects of radiation therapy depend mainly on the body part being treated and the dose of treatment. Common side effects of radiotherapy are dryness and irritation of the throat, difficulty swallowing food, fatigue, skin changes at the site of treatment and loss of appetite. Patients receiving radiation to the brain may have headaches, skin changes, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, hair loss or problems with memory processes and thoughts.

Photodynamic therapy makes the skin and eyes sensitive to light for 6 weeks or more after treatment. It is recommended that patients avoid direct sunlight and bright indoor light for 6 weeks at least. If patients need to go outside, they must wear protective clothing, including sunglasses. Other temporary side effects of photodynamic therapy may be coughing, difficulty swallowing food and painful breathing or shortness of breath. Patients should consult with your doctor what you should do if they are blisters on the skin or it gets red or swollen.

Today, because of what has been learned in clinical trials, physicians can control, reduce or avoid many of the side effects of treatment.

Radiotherapy is the use of high energy ionizing radiation in order to stop the growth and division of cancer cells in the area where they are used. It is used as local therapy (in the area where the tumor) or locoregional therapy (when including also the nodes near the tumor).

In the case of lung cancer, external radiation is applied, ie, radiation is administered from the outside by a radiation-generating equipment (linear accelerator). The advantage of external beam radiation is not require admission to hospital or is painful for the patient, and is managed by specialists in radiation oncology.

Social relations, labor and patient’s family need not be affected by the fact be receiving this therapy. With external beam therapy radiation is not apparent at any time during or after treatment. Thus, once the daily treatment, the patient may be in contact with others, does not emit any radioactivity.

Radiation therapy uses high energy X-radiation to destroy cancer cells. It uses a device called a linear accelerator that sends rays to the affected area only.

This lung cancer treatment is used sometimes as a primary or principal in patients who can not undergo surgery. In this case, is not to cure but slow the progression of the disease, although some exceptional cases come to heal without surgery, radiation therapy alone.

Radiation therapy to the lung is often used to relieve an airway obstruction leading to cancer.

When radiotherapy is used as a secondary treatment after surgery is primarily used to destroy cells that have not been removed.

Another use for which radiotherapy is used to relieve cancer-causing symptoms such as pain, difficulty swallowing, and so on.

Nicotine potentiates the carcinogenic effect of other substances from smoke snuff and the effects of carcinogens in the environment.

Nicotine acts on the mechanism of apoptosis, or cell death, preventing the cells to commit suicide. When it comes to cancer cells does the same thing which causes or encourages the formation of lung cancer.

In addition to snuff, there are other substances mentioned above which are listed now:

Asbestos: people who work with asbestos are seven times more likely to develop cancer than those who do not maintain contact with it. These people have a type of cancer called mesothelioma, which occurs in the pleura. In recent years, governments have banned the use of this material for commercial and industrial products. When combined with asbestos exposure to smoking, it increases their chances of getting cancer from 50 to 90 times.

Cancer-causing agents in the workplace: an occupational risk group are the miners. They work with materials that, when inhaled, can damage your lungs. Such substances are radioactive minerals such as uranium, and workers exposed to chemicals such as arsenic, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal based products, mustard gas and chloromethyl ethers. People working in these conditions should be careful to avoid exposure to these agents.

Other factors would be those that have produced some damage to the lung and predispose them to cancer, as having suffered tuberculosis, silicosis or berilosis (diseases, the latter two, caused by inhalation of certain minerals).

Another reason that favors the growth of cancer cells would be the excess or deficit of vitamin A.

Noting the risk factors seem easy to prevent this disease. The no smoking or quit is the most effective measure in preventing cancer.